Charles McCoy is elected new Bethune mayor

Witham, Fulmer elected to council

For the first time in a generation, Bethune will have a new mayor. In Tuesday’s election, Bethune residents chose Charles McCoy as its new mayor. McCoy will take office Jan. 1, replacing Carlisle Davis who has been mayor for 24 years.

According to unofficial results from the Kershaw County Voter Registration Office, McCoy received 99 votes (53 percent) while Davis received 86 votes (46 percent) -- a margin of only 13 votes. Two people voted for write-in candidates.

McCoy said he was grateful to everyone in the town for their support.

“I appreciate their efforts,” he said.

McCoy said he looks forward to “getting together (with council) to get a game plan and see what we can do to get our goals accomplished.”

He also said that the election seemed very smooth to him.

“Everything went well,” he said.

McCoy added that he would make an effort to make sure information was easily available to both the media and citizens of Bethune.

“You have a right to know,” he said.

Voters also elected Don Witham and John Fulmer to council. Witham, who has served previously on council, received 97 votes (28 percent), while Fulmer received 90 votes (23 percent). They replace incumbent Councilman Jimmy Steen, who received 50 votes (14 percent), and Councilwoman Gayle Beasley who elected not to run for reelection.